How to Move House with Cats

They asked us, how to move with cats? Cats, much like cat people, are a particular breed – quiet, independent, lovers of routine, not fans of change. When a cat grows to know a certain space, she can get very attached to said space.

Moving with pets puts some additional strain to your moving schedule. Dogs, for example, take things very differently, but not any less stressful. With that in mind, moving a cat to a new home is never easy, but we’ve gathered a few suggestions and moving tips to answer the question, How to move house with cats?

Preparing to Move House with Cats

Stay Calm. Moving to a new home creates inner tension – obviously. But, your cat will feel the same tension multiplied by ten. So, even though it’s a big challenge, try to keep calm.

Old Things Should Stay the Same. Apparently, you have too much work to do, but try not to change the feeding schedule. The place of the toys, even scattered is what’s normal for the cat. The scratching posts, especially the litter box should not be moved. It will only stress the poor creature further.

Take Boxes and Carrier out. Two weeks before the move, take all packing materials and cat carrier out. Sure, the cat will wonder what those things are, but once it explores and sees there’s nothing wrong, all will be fine. This is also a good way for the cat to get used to the carrier if it hasn’t already.

New Things Should be Introduced. When having some spare time, use a day to visit the new place, preferably after it had undergone pre-tenancy cleaning, and let the cat explore.

Cats love to wander around, so it’s not a bad thing to let the adorable feline get a taste, a smell, and a whisker rub from the new place.

How to Move House with Cats

Isolate the cat in an empty room. House removals happening – hired movers staff gets in and out, everyone in a hurry, things go missing every minute, it’s scary! Better not show this to your kitty. In the room, the cat should have a bowl of food and water, a litter box and a few toys to keep them busy. It’s also a good idea to put a note on the door so the movers don’t open it.

Put the cat in the crate. It’s good to have a snugly blanket inside. Cats, in general, love small soft spaces.

Do not feed the cat on the way. If transportation is too long, give some treats. A few pieces of dry cat food every hour and a half. It’s very possible she will get sick otherwise.

Be close, so the cat can hear your voice. Sometimes, something as simple as that is enough to keep a little creature calm.

Distract with toys. A wand with a fluffy feather at the end, a bell, or anything else the cat knows and finds fun. Time will pass quicker.

Do not sedate. Every cat is different and you know your cat best. Sedating might sound like a good idea, it might even be recommended by a vet. There are cats, who simply cannot take too much stress. They, not just meow and growl, but also harm themselves sometimes. In such cases sedating might be a good solution, but otherwise, do not do it.

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How to Introduce Your Cat to the New Place

Put the cat in a room for a while. Let the cat have some alone time with the food bowl (she didn’t eat enough today), the old bed and the favourite cat toys. At first, she might be uncomfortable with the new place, so better make sure she doesn’t escape.

Once curiosity is obvious, let the cat explore. There should be no more fear. And, what it knows won’t kill it, will definitely be an object of interest. Exploration time is when everything is unpacked and in the right place.

Let things stay the same. As stated, cats are creatures of habit and not fans of change at all. At the new place, make sure to keep feeding at the same time of the day. Keep the same toys and approximately the same place as the litter box, so the cat can get used faster.

Use cat pheromones. If you want your cat to get used to the place even faster, you can spray a cat pheromone product at walls, door, table and chair legs, at cat head level. Or if you don’t want to buy any, you can just use a napkin – rub the kitty’s cheeks and whiskers and smear the napkin on the same places. It might not be as useful though.

Moving with Cats Comes with Bureaucracy

Update ID tags. You have a new address. If the cat wanders out by accident, people should know where to find you.

Visit the local vet. You’ll be having a new GP probably, so the cat should have a new vet. Tell the vet about her medical history, and don’t be shy to address if there’s any weird behaviour. You can find a vet in your locality on the NHS website.

Love Your Cat

It doesn’t matter if you’re on the move, or not. The more love there is, the better everything will be. How to move with a cat doesn’t have to be a worrying question with the right plan and the right home removals company. Have you had your own endeavour with cats on the move? Tell us in the comments, and share your story.